The Drakhan Family mansion had provided me with the resources I needed. Alfred had done his part, gathering intelligence and setting traps. The rest was up to me. I adjusted the grip on the Drakhan sword at my side, its weight a comforting reminder of the power I wielded.
My psychokinesis was my greatest asset, but I had learned to use it sparingly, conserving my mana for the moments when it truly counted.
As I neared the entrance to Varik's territory, I paused, blending into the shadows. The guards were alert, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of intruders. This is one of Draven's traits that is very compatible with the darkness. I watched them carefully, noting their patterns and movements. Patience was key; rushing in would only lead to failure.
I activated [Vision], a spell that allowed me to see the magical auras of objects and people. The artifact's faint glow of dark and red aura caught my eye immediately even though it was hidden and blocked by walls. It was deep within the treasury, hidden among a collection of trinkets and gold. Varik had no idea of its true value, but I did. With a deep breath, I began to formulate my plan.
First, I needed a diversion. Alfred had arranged for a group of paid men to create a disturbance at the northern gate. I sent a mental signal to myself as I'd already told Alfred my calculations about when the disturbance should be started, and moments later, the sounds of shouting and clashing steel filled the night.
The guards at the entrance hurried towards the commotion, leaving their posts unguarded. I slipped through the gate, moving swiftly and silently.
The interior of Varik's lair was a maze of corridors and chambers, each one filled with potential threats. I relied on my knowledge of the layout, pieced together from Alfred's intelligence and my own observations. I avoided the main hallways, sticking to the less-traveled paths. The walls were lined with torches, their flickering light casting eerie shadows that danced as I passed.
Varik is one of the renowned black market dealers in the game. He could be described as a character with the nature of neutral chaos. he could be neutral, but he supplied and helped the villains more since his customers were mostly the underworld's residents, rather than helping good men.
As I approached the treasury, I encountered a group of lower-ranked members of the Deadly Hollows. They were lounging in a side room, their laughter and crude jokes grating on my ears.
"Hahaha! She was that scared when I entered her room!"
"I bet. Women who love to act brave quickly lost their facade when we locked the door!"
I couldn't afford to let them raise an alarm. With a flick of my wrist, I sent a wave of psychokinetic force through the doorway, slamming them against the walls. They crumpled to the ground, unconscious. I stepped over their bodies.
"Scums," I uttered as I strangled them from breathing with psychokinesis, and closed their mouth to make sure no sound escaped.
My mind is already on the next step.
The treasury door was heavily guarded, but not impenetrable. I crouched in the shadows, observing the two guards who stood watch. Their expressions were bored, their posture lax. They had grown complacent, a mistake that would cost them dearly. I focused my mind, reaching out with my psychokinesis.
The guards' weapons were yanked from their hands, clattering to the floor. Before they could react, I was upon them.
"Y-You are!?"
"E-Earl Drakh-"
Slash!
The Drakhan sword flashed in the dim light. They fell silently, their eyes wide with shock.
Since the battle to the tomb of Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, I used [Comprehend] to analyze the sword style of the Drakhan Family's knights, and carve it upon my body. Unlike the Psychokinesis that got carved into a tattoo on my arm, with just simple practices, the swordsmanship got easily blended in into my movement.
But with proper comprehension, I could enhance them to be much more efficient and swift suitable for my physique.
I pushed open the treasury door, stepping into the vault. Gold and jewels glittered in the torchlight, but I ignored them, my eyes fixed on the artifact first. It was a gauntlet with a dark black color. Its surface is etched with intricate runes, but not ordinary runes, it must be runes from the demon realm.
Even though it was now covered with dust, when I reached out, I could feel a surge of power as my fingers closed around it. This was what I had come for, the key to my plan.
I slipped the gauntlet into the bag I'd brought, turning to the rest of the treasure vault.
This is a vault of one of the greatest black market dealers. There must be something here. Taking the gold and other things that are precious would alert them, let's try looking using [Vision] and take those who seem to be neglected and old but have hidden skills or qualities.
I can try improving my quality with [Chyrisus' touch] as well.
But my exit was not yet secure. I needed to sabotage the Deadly Hollows, to cut off the limbs of their organization without alerting the higher-ups. I moved through the corridors, planting traps in strategic locations. A binding charm here, a sleep spell there. Each one is designed to incapacitate and disorient the lower ranks.
It is quite foolish how the Deadly Hollows are searching for the artifact, and already made a pact with Varik, but are unaware of the artifact being located in the vault, neglected.
As I worked, the distant sounds of the disturbance Alfred had arranged echoed through the corridors. The paid men were doing their job well, drawing attention away from my actions. I moved with precision, my mind calculating each step. The lower-ranked members of the Deadly Hollows were no match for me. They fell easily, their surprise and confusion evident as they were caught in my traps.
I reached a small chamber where a group of members were gathered, discussing their next move. Their leader, a burly man with a scar running down his face, barked orders, his voice harsh and commanding. "We need to tighten security! No one gets in or out without my say-so!"
I focused my psychokinesis, lifting a heavy wooden beam from the ceiling. With a flick of my wrist, it crashed down on them with a deafening thud. The leader's eyes widened in horror as he was pinned beneath it. "What the—!?"
I moved swiftly, using the chaos to my advantage. The remaining members stumbled back, their panic palpable.
"What the hell just happened?!" one of them shouted, drawing his sword.
Before he could react, I lunged forward, my Drakhan sword flashing in the dim light. I parried his clumsy strike and countered with a swift slash across his chest. He crumpled to the ground, gasping.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" another yelled, eyes darting around wildly.
I emerged from the shadows, a smirk playing on my lips. "Is this how the Deadly Hollows greet all their guests? I'm almost disappointed."
"You!" the pinned leader growled, struggling under the beam. "It's Draven! Don't just stand there, kill him!"
Two more members rushed at me, weapons raised. I met their charge head-on, sidestepping the first's clumsy swing and driving my elbow into his ribs. He wheezed, doubling over, and I finished him with a quick thrust.
The second attacker hesitated, fear flickering in his eyes. "You think you can just walk in here and—" His words were cut off as I extended my hand, using my psychokinesis to hurl him into the wall. He hit it with a sickening crunch and slid to the floor, unconscious.
The remaining members were disoriented, their panic turning to desperation. I could sense their fear, their realization that they were outmatched.
"Let's make this quick," I taunted, twirling my sword. "I have places to be."
One of them, a wiry man with a dagger, lunged at me from the side. I caught his wrist, twisting it until he dropped the blade with a yelp. A swift kick sent him sprawling.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunted.
Another member tried to flank me, but I was ready. With a swift motion, I sent a wave of psychokinetic force at him, knocking him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, groaning.
The leader, still pinned under the beam, watched in growing horror. "You… you'll pay for this, Draven!"